Friday, May 01, 2009

COMMENTS: So a 7-0 home record to start out this season ain't good enough for you, eh? We now need to challenge the record for the franchise's longest home winning streak to start a season (nine games, in 1946)? Looking at Peavy, the signs look good for the Dodgers, despite his historical dominance over Los Angeles; we beat him and the Padres 4-1 to open the season on April 6, and Peavy has given up 11ER in 11 IP over his last two starts (both losses). On the flipside, though, Kershaw hasn't had a win in any of his four outings this year, and his last two starts aren't anything to write home about, either (15ER over 9IP, both losses).

Accuscore is giving the Dodgers only a 53% chance of winning tonight's game. And by the looks of the guy on the ESPN video preview, he's not happy about that whatsoever.

I'm heading out for dinner at my hotel tonight (happy to be out of Old San Juan--it was time for a change of pace), but if I'm lucky I'll be back in time to watch a glitchy MLB.tv feed of the game and talk to you guys.

Dusto - I am not as worried about Kemp getting hurt in RF (I actually was at the game where Loney got knocked out playing RF) as I am about degrading the defense. Kemp isn't that good of a RF, other than his arm. He is actually better as a CF, probably because of his weakness in reading balls.

I don't know about Kemp having a "weakness" in judging flyballs. Sure there are better but Kemp has looked pretty good this year fielding (and better than last year). And besides, wouldn't that "weakness" translate into worse performance at CF since he has more ground to cover there?

"I don't know about Kemp having a "weakness" in judging flyballs. Sure there are better but Kemp has looked pretty good this year fielding (and better than last year). And besides, wouldn't that "weakness" translate into worse performance at CF since he has more ground to cover there?"

Kemp's biggest documented weakness is at judging straight on fly balls. That becomes even worse in RF where such balls are also coming at an angle. I am sure his new contacts have helped, but Kemp's main issues are related to depth perception.

I imagine organists are a rarity now. She definitely doesn't get enough props. She does things people don't even notice. I remember going to a game last year against the Pirates, and she was playing a Pirates Life for Me before the game. I got such a kick out of it, and I wonder how many people noticed.